Germany Arrests 3 Ukrainians Suspected of Spying in Exploding Parcel Plot

FILE PHOTO: Parcels waiting to be processed are seen through a glass as a delivery worker's reflection appears on it in a post office in Hong Kong, China, May 2, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Parcels waiting to be processed are seen through a glass as a delivery worker's reflection appears on it in a post office in Hong Kong, China, May 2, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo
TT
20

Germany Arrests 3 Ukrainians Suspected of Spying in Exploding Parcel Plot

FILE PHOTO: Parcels waiting to be processed are seen through a glass as a delivery worker's reflection appears on it in a post office in Hong Kong, China, May 2, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Parcels waiting to be processed are seen through a glass as a delivery worker's reflection appears on it in a post office in Hong Kong, China, May 2, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo

Germany has arrested three Ukrainian nationals on suspicion of foreign agent activity linked to the shipment of parcels containing explosive devices, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

The suspects are believed to have been in contact with individuals working for Russian state institutions, Reuters quoted federal prosecutors as saying in a statement.

Two of the men, identified in line with German privacy laws only as Vladyslav T. and Daniil B., were arrested over the weekend in Germany. Another, identified as Yevhen B., was arrested on Tuesday in Switzerland.

"The defendants are strongly suspected of acting as agents for the purpose of sabotage," the statement said, accusing them of agreeing to commit serious arson and procure explosives.

German authorities warned businesses in August last year that packages containing incendiary devices had caught fire en route across Europe.

Logistics firm DHL took measures to protect its network following several fires at a warehouse in Leipzig.



Khamenei Makes First Public Statement after End of Israel-Iran War

This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him, flanked by the Iranian flag and a portrait of his predecessor the late supreme leader and Iranian revolution leader Ruhollah Khomeini, giving a televised address in Tehran on June 18, 2025. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)
This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him, flanked by the Iranian flag and a portrait of his predecessor the late supreme leader and Iranian revolution leader Ruhollah Khomeini, giving a televised address in Tehran on June 18, 2025. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)
TT
20

Khamenei Makes First Public Statement after End of Israel-Iran War

This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him, flanked by the Iranian flag and a portrait of his predecessor the late supreme leader and Iranian revolution leader Ruhollah Khomeini, giving a televised address in Tehran on June 18, 2025. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)
This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him, flanked by the Iranian flag and a portrait of his predecessor the late supreme leader and Iranian revolution leader Ruhollah Khomeini, giving a televised address in Tehran on June 18, 2025. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei claimed victory over Israel on Thursday in his first public statement since a ceasefire was declared in the war between the two countries. 

Khamenei hasn't been seen in public since taking shelter in a secret location after the outbreak of the war June 13 when Israel attacked Iranian nuclear facilities and targeted top military commanders and scientists. 

Following a massive American attack on June 22 that hit the nuclear sites with bunker-buster bombs, US President Donald Trump was able to help negotiate a ceasefire that came into effect on Tuesday. 

Khameni did release a video message on June 19 during the war, and Iranian state television and the supreme leader’s own social media pages announced that he would be releasing another video message to Iran on Thursday. 

In his first comment posted on X, he offered his “congratulations on the victory” over Israel.